12" Stainless Drip Pan for Kamado Grills

Collect Drippings in Medium Kamados

Our 12" stainless drip pan works well in medium-size kamado setups using 12" to 13" heat deflectors, including the Medium Big Green Egg ConvEGGtor. It helps catch grease and drippings before they reach the ceramic deflector, while still leaving room for airflow around the setup.

Medium Big Green Egg ConvEGGtor setup with 12" stainless drip pan pictured above.

Why Use a Drip Pan in a Kamado

Ceramic heat deflectors absorb grease and moisture over time. During longer cooks, trapped drippings can burn, create unpleasant odors, and slowly stress the ceramic.

Placing a 12" stainless drip pan above the deflector helps catch grease before it reaches the ceramic.

• Protects the deflector — keeps grease and drippings off ceramic surfaces
• Reduces burnt-on buildup — helps limit stubborn mess on the deflector
• Cleaner kamado cooks — helps keep the inside of the grill cleaner between cooks
• Reusable design — built for repeated use, cook after cook

Will It Fit My Kamado?

The 12" drip pan is designed for kamado grills and indirect setups using a deflector close to 12" in diameter. It is a common choice for medium kamado grills where a 10" pan may not provide enough coverage, but a larger pan may restrict airflow.

This pan is commonly used with:

• Medium Big Green Egg ConvEGGtor
• 12" round heat deflectors
• Some 12" to 13" kamado deflector setups

If your grill appears on the CGS website, check its product page for recommended setups and accessories.

If you're unsure about size, use these quick checks before buying:

• Match the deflector — choose a pan close to your deflector diameter
• Check clearance — confirm space between the deflector, drip pan, and cooking grid
• Leave airflow — avoid using a pan so large that heat cannot move around the edges

See the Specs section below for exact pan dimensions.

Why the Tapered Side Helps

The 12" pan uses a tapered sidewall to help balance grease coverage and airflow in medium kamado setups.

The base of the pan sits closer to the deflector, while the wider upper rim gives you more drip-catching area where grease is most likely to fall. That shape helps the pan cover the deflector without acting like a flat heat blocker across the entire setup.

For medium kamados, that balance matters. You want enough pan coverage to protect the ceramic, but not so much blockage that the grill struggles to breathe around the indirect setup.

How to Use

• Double-line with foil — overlap two sheets in a “+” pattern for quick cleanup
• Extend coverage — flare foil outward over the rim if needed
• Place above the deflector — set directly on the deflector or elevate with spacers if clearance allows
• Keep airflow open — make sure heat can still move around the drip pan

Pro Tip: Using heavy-duty foil and a double layer makes cleanup easier and helps prevent grease from reaching the stainless pan.

How About Spacers?

Using 2" spacers on their 1-1/2" side to elevate the 12" drip pan up and off the Medium EGG ConvEGGtor.

👉 Pairing Tip: View our handy Ceramic Spacers (3 per set).

CGS Ceramic Spacers create an air gap between the heat deflector and drip pan. This gap helps reduce direct heat transfer from the ceramic to the pan, which can help limit burnt drippings during longer cooks.

Spacer use depends on your rack system and available vertical clearance. Choose spacers that create the largest practical air gap between the deflector and pan. Having the pan closer to the cooking grid is generally better than having it closer to the deflector, as long as the pan does not interfere with the cooking grid or restrict airflow.

If your setup is tight, use the pan directly on the deflector. If you have room, spacers can help create a cleaner-running indirect setup.

Should You Add Liquid to the Drip Pan?

At CGS, we generally recommend not adding liquid during most BBQ cooks.

Kamado grills retain heat and moisture extremely well. Adding liquid increases humidity inside the cooker and can reduce bark formation on brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, and other low-and-slow cooks.

What About Pans with Built-In Feet?

We prefer using the right pan with the right spacer setup instead of relying on pans with built-in feet. Built-in feet often sound convenient, but they usually do not create much space between the pan and deflector.

When the pan sits too close to the hot ceramic, drippings are more likely to burn in the pan. A larger air gap, when your setup allows it, gives the drippings a better chance to stay cleaner during the cook.

That matters if you want easier cleanup, fewer off odors, or the option to save drippings for another use.

Best Way to Clean a Reusable Drip Pan

The best cleanup strategy is to double-foil the pan before cooking. Even heavy-duty foil can develop small tears or cracks as you press it into the pan, especially around the sides. A second layer greatly reduces the chance of grease leaking through on longer cooks.

If you skip the foil, do not expect your dishwasher to make the pan look new again. Burnt-on grease is difficult for any dishwasher to remove.

The pan will heat- and smoke-tarnish. That is normal for a stainless drip pan used inside a kamado. You may wash off some buildup, but over time the pan will remain darkened from heat, smoke, and grease.

The best practice is simple: double-foil the pan before cooking, then hand wash after each use. Designate it as your kamado drip pan and use it cook after cook.

Why Stainless Steel

Disposable aluminum pans can bend, collapse, or leak when filled with hot grease. A stainless drip pan holds its shape better and can be reused many times.

• More stable than disposable pans — better support when catching hot grease
• Reusable — made for repeated kamado cooks
• Heat tolerant — stainless steel handles high-heat grill environments better than thin aluminum
• Better long-term value — no need to throw away a pan after every cook

What’s Included

• One 12" stainless drip pan
• Foil, ceramic spacers, deflectors, and rack systems sold separately

FAQs

Will a 12" drip pan fit my Medium Big Green Egg?

Yes. The 12" drip pan works well with the Medium Big Green Egg ConvEGGtor and other medium indirect setups using a 12" heat deflector.

Can this pan be used with other kamado grills?

Yes. Any kamado grill setup using a 12" round heat deflector can typically use a 12" drip pan. Always check vertical clearance and airflow around the pan before buying.

Should I use ceramic spacers with this pan?

Use spacers if your setup has enough vertical clearance. Spacers create an air gap between the deflector and drip pan, which can help reduce burnt drippings. If clearance is tight, place the pan directly on the deflector.

Should liquid be added to the drip pan?

Usually not. Kamado grills retain moisture naturally, and adding liquid can reduce bark formation during BBQ cooks.

My pan turned dark after cooking. Is that normal?

Yes. Stainless drip pans will heat-tarnish over time. The discoloration does not affect performance and simply shows the pan has been used for many good cooks.

12" Drip Pan Specifications

• Diameter: 12"
• Sidewall: 3/4" to 1" tapered side
• Edge: rolled top edge for strength
• Material: 200 series stainless steel
• Finish: heat-tarnishes with use; foil recommended

Final Thought on the Drip Pan

There’s no need to spend extra on 304 stainless for this type of part. Drip pans naturally darken from heat, smoke, and grease, so higher-grade stainless provides little practical benefit in this application.

This is one place you can save money without sacrificing performance.

Brand Compatibility & Product Engineering

Ceramic Grill Store is an independent manufacturer and retailer of kamado grill accessories. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Big Green Egg, Inc. or Kamado Joe Company.

Big Green Egg, EGG, ConvEGGtor, and EGGspander are trademarks of Big Green Egg, Inc. Kamado Joe and Divide & Conquer are trademarks of Kamado Joe Company. These trademarks are used solely to describe compatibility.

Since 2005, Ceramic Grill Store has led innovation in kamado grill accessories. Our premium accessories are independently engineered for compatibility with select kamado grills.